I remember years ago when Angel Martino couldn't go to the 1988 olympics? Now, a swimmer name Vencill has been accused of taking steriods who was going to the Pan-American games.Americans always point to the East German system in the 1970's and 1980's and the Chinese in the 1990's. So, do some of you think its more widespread in the US than has been previous thought?
Tom,
I'm 100% with you on this, the list of banned substances is clear and ANY violation should have extremally harsh penalties. Yes there should be rigourous testing and verification as well but as long as we're willing to look at cheating as having a "grey" area where some violations have less penalties than others people will continue to push the envelope.
Part of the problem we have is the influence of pro sports lack of commitment to a strong policy (how many chanes and what a great message they sent with Strawberry), baseball being the absolute worst (hey Andro's cool, even though every other sport in the world bans it!).
If you look deeped into this, mainly with kids programs I think most people would be stunned, you've got 10 year olds using creatine and steroid use in high school football is epidemic. But the abuse goes the other way as well, don't think for a second that Masters swimming is clean!
As long as we are willing to say lets be "tolerant" and give people 2, 3.......chances we will continue to have abuse. Follow the rules or your gone!
Tom,
I'm 100% with you on this, the list of banned substances is clear and ANY violation should have extremally harsh penalties. Yes there should be rigourous testing and verification as well but as long as we're willing to look at cheating as having a "grey" area where some violations have less penalties than others people will continue to push the envelope.
Part of the problem we have is the influence of pro sports lack of commitment to a strong policy (how many chanes and what a great message they sent with Strawberry), baseball being the absolute worst (hey Andro's cool, even though every other sport in the world bans it!).
If you look deeped into this, mainly with kids programs I think most people would be stunned, you've got 10 year olds using creatine and steroid use in high school football is epidemic. But the abuse goes the other way as well, don't think for a second that Masters swimming is clean!
As long as we are willing to say lets be "tolerant" and give people 2, 3.......chances we will continue to have abuse. Follow the rules or your gone!
